Radiesse, Ellanse and HA fillers differ in mechanism: hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers add soft volume directly and can be dissolved with hyaluronidase, while Radiesse (calcium hydroxylapatite) and Ellanse (polycaprolactone) are biostimulators that add structure and prompt the body's own collagen, and cannot be dissolved. The zone being treated decides which suits.
- HA fillers add soft volume directly; Radiesse (calcium hydroxylapatite) and Ellanse (polycaprolactone) are biostimulators that prompt your own collagen.
- The zone being treated decides which suits: Radiesse and Ellanse for structural zones, HA for lips and tear troughs.
- Only HA filler can be dissolved with hyaluronidase; Radiesse and Ellanse cannot, so placement matters.
- Skin quality, such as texture and hydration, is a different complaint from lost volume and is not fixed by any of them.
- Dr Sin Yong, an aesthetic physician, assesses each zone and chooses the product.
- What they are
- HA fillers add volume; Radiesse (CaHA) and Ellanse (PCL) are biostimulators that also prompt collagen
- Key distinction
- Only HA can be dissolved, with hyaluronidase; Radiesse and Ellanse cannot
- Where each is used
- Radiesse and Ellanse for nose, chin, forehead and hands; HA for lips and tear troughs
- How it is assessed
- Each zone examined for volume loss, structure and skin quality before a product is chosen
- Recovery and aftercare
- Discussed at consultation; depends on the area, product and plan
Reviewed October 2026. The product comparison below still holds; for how Dr Sin Yong now positions each biostimulator, read the collagen biostimulators comparison and the Ellansé nodules vs Sculptra migration guide.
Calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) and polycaprolactone (PCL) fillers add structure and prompt your own collagen; hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers add volume and can be dissolved. CaHA and PCL suit bone-support areas such as the nose, chin and jawline; HA suits soft areas such as the lips and tear troughs, where reversibility matters. Neither CaHA nor PCL can be dissolved with hyaluronidase.
Radiesse vs Ellanse: material, mechanism and reversibility
Radiesse vs Ellanse comes down to material and tempo. Radiesse is calcium hydroxylapatite in a gel carrier, giving volume plus biostimulation of the patient's own collagen. Ellanse is polycaprolactone, which continues stimulating collagen after the initial volume resolves and comes in several formulations. Neither can be dissolved, unlike hyaluronic acid filler, so correct placement matters. Both are used for structural zones such as the nose, chin, forehead and hands.
Because non-HA fillers cannot be dissolved, read the warning signs of vascular occlusion.
CaHA vs PCL vs HA filler by face area
The comparison between CaHA, PCL and HA fillers is easiest to follow area by area, because each area asks something different of the material: structure, softness or reversibility. This table shows how the choice usually falls.
| Area | Usual material | Why | What is avoided |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nose bridge and tip | CaHA or PCL, placed with a fine needle on the bone | Firm support for projection | Large volumes, because of vascular risk |
| Chin and jawline | Firm HA, CaHA or PCL, chosen at assessment | Structure on the bone | Soft HA alone where definition is the goal |
| Cheekbones and temples | CaHA, PCL or HA, depending on skin and goal | Support with or without collagen stimulation | Overfilling the midface |
| Lips | HA | Soft, mobile area where reversibility matters | CaHA and PCL |
| Tear troughs | Soft HA in small amounts | Thin skin; dissolvable if needed | CaHA and PCL, which can form visible lumps here |
The choice between CaHA and PCL in a structural area depends on how long the support needs to last, the skin over it and earlier treatments. Both are biostimulators as well as fillers, so they are placed conservatively and reviewed. For the wider picture of collagen-stimulating products, see collagen biostimulators in Singapore; for lumps after non-HA fillers under the eye, see under-eye lumps after non-HA fillers.
Dr Sin Yong maps the area with ultrasound before correction work, and for the nose he usually uses CaHA or PCL with a fine needle on the bone.
Dermal fillers vs Classic HA
Not all fillers are the same. The filler category encompasses products with very different mechanisms, longevity, reversibility profiles and clinical applications. Understanding these differences is essential for selecting the right product for each patient and each anatomical zone.
Individual product pages: Sculptra · Ellansé · Radiesse · Deusaderm (injected collagen).
Classic HA Fillers
Hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers are the most commonly used dermal fillers globally. They provide volume correction, are reversible with hyaluronidase, and how long they last varies with the product and zone. Classic HA fillers work primarily through physical volume replacement — they do not significantly stimulate collagen production.
Radiesse — Calcium Hydroxylapatite
Radiesse is composed of calcium hydroxylapatite microspheres suspended in a gel carrier. It provides volume and also acts as a biostimulator — the microsphere scaffold stimulates the patient's own collagen production. How long it lasts varies with the area and individual, and Radiesse is often chosen for structural support (nose, chin, jawline, forehead, hands).
Ellanse — Polycaprolactone
Ellanse uses polycaprolactone (PCL) microspheres, which biostimulate collagen even more substantially than Radiesse. Available in 1, 2, 3 and 4-year formulations, Ellanse provides sustained collagen stimulation long after the initial volume has resolved — making it particularly suitable for patients seeking long-term structural regeneration.
Dr Sin Yong uses Radiesse and Ellanse as his primary filler products for structural zones — nose, chin, forehead, and hands. HA fillers are reserved for zones requiring precision soft-tissue correction (lips, tear troughs) where reversibility is paramount.
